The most famous and impactful blockbuster trade in the history of the National Hockey League occurred on August 9, 1988, when the Edmonton Oilers traded legendary superstar Wayne Gretzky, along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski, to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a massive package consisting of cash, draft picks, and players like Jimmy Carson and Martin Gelinas. This historic transaction sent shockwaves through the sports world, fundamentally altering the economic landscape of hockey in the United States, boosting popularity in California, and sparking passionate public grief among fans in Edmonton who mourned the departure of the greatest player to ever lace up skates.